Our free, product-agnostic, expert-led course content is designed to train social impact professionals to use AI responsibly and effectively.
The AI Coalition for Social Impact, convened by Blackbaud, the world’s leading provider of AI-powered solutions for social impact, launched the AI for Social Impact certification program with the launch of the first course, Fundamentals of AI for Social Impact. Our free, product-agnostic certification program is designed to help organizations build the confidence, skills, and governance needed to use artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively.
“AI may be the biggest mission acceleration key in the history of social impact, but adoption alone is not enough,” said Carrie Cobb, Chief Data and AI Officer at Blackbaud. “The key is increasing AI maturity, which means investing in education and best practices to properly manage AI, as well as deploying tools designed for specific workflows. This training, combined with the right technology, will enable organizations to move from episodic AI usage to transformative AI outcomes.”
Recent data from the Blackbaud Institute (June 2026) found that 85% of nonprofit professionals are currently using AI in their work, and half of organizations will use more AI in 2026 than they did last year. But only about 10% reap significant profits as a result. The AI for Social Impact certification course provides a concrete pathway for organizations looking to build AI maturity that drives lasting value to their mission.
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The first course in the certification program features three lessons taught by experts from AI Coalition for Social Impact member organizations.
- Lesson 1: AI basics |Taught by Ari Kaplan, a pioneer in digital transformation and currently Global Head of Evangelism at Databricks, this course provides social impact professionals with an easy-to-understand introduction to the world of artificial intelligence. Ari brings decades of experience translating complex technical concepts into practical frameworks. In this course, you will learn the basics of AI, including its history, evolution, and the main types of AI in use today. We explore not only what AI is, but how to understand and evaluate it in ways that enhance your mission and empower your teams.
- Lesson 2: Navigate AI tools and trends |This course, taught by Daniel Wallace and Dante Gabrieli from McKinsey & Company, provides a practical overview of today’s AI landscape and what it means for organizations impacting society. Explore why AI transformation is happening now, why so many organizations are struggling to move beyond pilots, and how emerging tools like AI agents are reshaping the way work gets done. Through clear frameworks, real-world examples, and easy-to-understand explanations, this course will help you demystify AI and connect technology trends to mission-driven outcomes. This course is designed to help you understand where your organization is in its AI maturity journey and how to take informed and thoughtful next steps.
- Lesson 3: Understand the generational perspective of AI | Led by Dr. Laurene Currie, Blackbaud’s Lead AI Research Scientist, this course explores how attitudes toward AI vary by age group and what these differences mean for its adoption in the social impact field. Based on real-world research and examples, Laurene provides insights into generational trends, trust factors, and expectations around the use of AI. This course is designed to help organizations learn how to align their AI strategies and communications to effectively engage diverse audiences.
Convened by Blackbaud in 2025, the AI Coalition for Social Impact brings together leaders in philanthropy, technology, education, and corporate social responsibility to provide guidance, common standards, and practical resources for the responsible use of AI. This free, product-independent certification program is the coalition’s flagship initiative. Course 2, “Responsible AI Principles and Regulations,” will be available later this year.
